It’s a trick question. The answer is “keep living”.

I lost my whole blog. I’ve tried for days to recover it, to no avail. So, I started from scratch. I’m still holding out hope to recover my old posts. I am waiting on Dreamhost’s wonderful tech support people to see if it can be done.

I’ve learned a great deal about mySQL in the past few days, but probably just enough to be dangerous. No, that’s not true. Actually, I learned enough to get serious about backing up and organizing things so that this never happens again!

But, I did take time for some really fun art! My friend, Kristina, sent me this great wooden box. It had a place on the lid where you could insert a photo. I decided to make it into a jewelry box. I painted it and then inserted copper in the photo place.

This is the top. It was hard to get a picture because the copper reflects the light so much.

I used a stylus to make the outline of the star shape and the spiral. Then I painted it with alcohol inks. In person, the copper almost looks pink against the red ink. It’s really much prettier than this photo.

I painted a verse around the sides that says, “Jewelry take my mind off my wrinkles.”

I used gesso and acrylics to paint the wood. After the paint dried, I mixed a little brown paint in some water and just painted that wash all over it.

I’m letting the paint dry overnight and then I’ll give it a coat of polyurethane.

This is the first thing I’ve made in a long time that I just really love.

Now I’m wishing I had taken a picture of a view of the whole thing, better, instead of just the sides all separately. Oh well, I know you all have great imaginations !

Cyndi at Layers Upon Layers did a really nice interview of me on her blog today.? After being interviewed I usually think about how I wished I’d answered differently or remember something I wish I had said.? But, Cyndi asked such great questions that I felt okay afterward.? Thank you, Cyndi!I want to remind everyone about my upcoming class, “Do Art Like A Kid”.? It is next Thurs, the 23rd at 9 PM Eastern time. ? We are going to recapture the joy of creating and work through some of the things that make us unsure of ourselves about what we create.? We are going to have a lot of fun, and I hope you’ll join us.? If you’re interested, go here.

just signed up at Docstoc.? It’s a site where you can upload any documents you’d like to share with others.? ? ? You can set the copyright terms of your document.? You can download, email or get the code to embed other people’s documents, too.? I found some great articles and e-books there.This one is great. It’s a visual table of the basics of copyright law.

Copyright, Trademark & Patent Survey

If you would like to download the entire document, you can here.

Cyndi at Layers Upon Layers did a really nice interview of me on her blog today.? After being interviewed I usually think about how I wished I’d answered differently or remember something I wish I had said.? But, Cyndi asked such great questions that I felt okay afterward.? Thank you, Cyndi!I want to remind everyone about my upcoming class, “Do Art Like A Kid”.? It is next Thurs, the 23rd at 9 PM Eastern time. ? We are going to recapture the joy of creating and work through some of the things that make us unsure of ourselves about what we create.? We are going to have a lot of fun, and I hope you’ll join us.? If you’re interested, go here.

Remember when you just drew, cut and painted for the fun of it, without worrying what anyone else thought about your finished work? If you’d like to spend an hour recapturing that feeling, please join me for a live class on January 23rd at 9 PM Eastern Time. Using a cheap journal, crayons and pencils we will explore the path to reliving the days when having fun was all that mattered.The class will be on the internet so you will not need your to make a phone call. It will last approximately one hour. The cost is $10.00.

To sign up for the class go to this link. Class will be limited to 20 participants so don’t miss out!

You know how we often talk about getting back to the childlike state of mind while creating? Well, how great would it be to try to get that state of mind at more times than just when we’re doing art?

Like, when you’re cleaning house!! I found the products here and I think they are just wonderful.

I want these!! And I want to give them as gifts to all the women I know.

This first one is just too much fun! How would like to go get out your Barbie and do the dusting?

And this one. Oh my gosh! I hate washing dishes and this would make it so much more pleasant. Wash a few and then blow some bubbles to cascade down upon you while you wash a few more. Awesome!!

I have joined the 101 Things in 1001 days project.? The idea is to write 101 things you’d like to accomplish and then see how you to at achieving them.? You can read about the original idea here.? There is a Live Journal community for support, where you can report your progress and get encouragement, here.Rather than keeping my progress on this blog, I set up a Blogger blog to keep tabs on my accomplishments.? If you’re interested, you can view that blog here.

I don’t have 101 things listed yet.? I’m trying to keep the list down to things that I might actually accomplish.? But the challenge is fun and I hope you might join me.

Leave me a comment, if you are joining!